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Danbury Connecticut |
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City and Destination Information Accommodations Suggestions for Danbury Things to See and Do Restaurant and Dining Suggestions Books, Maps, Travel Guides and More Links |
City and Destination Information
Danbury was first settled by colonists in 1685, when eight families moved to the area from the area that is now Norwalk and Stamford. The area was then called Paquiaqe by the Paquioque Native Americans. One of the first settlers was Samuel Benedict who bought land from the Paquioque natives in 1685 along with his brother James, James Beebe, and Judah Gregory. The settlers originally chose the name Swampfield for their town, but in October 1687, the general court decreed the name Danbury.
During the American Revolution, Danbury was an important military supply depot for the Continental army. On April 26-27, 1777, the British under Major General William Tryon burned and looted the city. The central motto on the Seal of the City of Danbury is Restituimus (Latin for "We have restored"), a reference to the destruction caused by the Loyalist army troops. The American General David Wooster was mortally wounded near the city of Ridgefield, Connecticut by these same British forces which had earlier attacked Danbury. He is buried in Danbury's Wooster Cemetery, and the private Wooster School in Danbury is named in his honor.
In 1780, the first hat factory in Danbury was established by Zadoc Benedict, employing three workers and producing 18 hats a week. Danbury was known as "The Hat City of the World" through most of the 20th Century. In 1802, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, a religious group, in which he used the expression "Separation of Church and State". It is the first known instance of the expression, which does not appear in the U.S. Constitution, contrary to popular belief. (This letter is on display at the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Danbury.)
In 1835, the Connecticut Legislature granted a rail charter to the "Fairfield County Railroad," but after 15 years, no work had been completed and investment was slow. In 1850, the organization's vast plans were scaled back and it was renamed the "Danbury and Norwalk Railroad." Work moved quickly on the 23-mile railroad line. In 1852, the first railroad line in Danbury opened, with two trains making the 75-minute trip to Norwalk. The city of Danbury was incorporated April 19, 1889.
In 1902, the American Federation of Labor union called for a nationwide boycott of a non-union hat manufacturer, Dietrich Loewe, in Danbury. The manufacturer sued the union under the Sherman Antitrust Act for unlawfully restraining trade. The Supreme Court held that the union was liable for damages in 1908. This case is also known as the Danbury Hatters case.
For additional information about Danbury, click on wikipedia.org.
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Blue
Jay Orchards
Charles
Ives Center For The Arts
Outdoor amphitheater with concerts and performances most
weekends Memorial Day-Labor Day. A variety of contemporary music styles:
jazz/swing, pop/rock, blues/R and B, folk/country, Broadway, and classical.
5,500 seating capacity; 1,700 reserved seats, 3,800 lawn seating capacity and
JumboTron Video Screen. Westside Campus, WCSU, I-84, Ex 4, Danbury, CT 06810.
(203) 837-9226. Click
here to visit their Web site.
Over sixty vintage locomotives and railcars to tour,
educational exhibits of artifacts and photographs, and three large operating
model layouts. Train Rides in Rail yard every weekend Apr.-Dec. Tues.-Sat. 10-5,
Sun. 12-5, closed Mon. Jan.-Mar., Wed.-Sat. 10-4, Sun. 12-4, Closed Mon. and
Tues. 1120
Hidden
Log lined trails wind their
way through the woods and wetlands and have viewing stations. The Museum has
exhibits of local trees, animals and geological traits found here. Trails open
dawn to dusk. The center is open May through October.
Military
Over 10,000 artifacts covering all of the armed services of
the
Musicals
At Richter
Connecticut's longest running outdoor theater since 1985
produces a series of musicals from June - August and offers Fairy Tale Theater
for children in July. 100
Aunt Hack Rd.,
Sculpture
Barn
Western most part of
Explore over 20 miles of hiking trails or come visit the
historic
Explore over 20 miles of hiking trails or come visit the
historic
The
Trading Post
Westside
Nature Preserve
Follow a 0.75 mi. dirt trail through the woodlands and
wetlands of this 33 acre preserve that serves as an outdoor laboratory for the
University. A wild flower amphitheater in the flat region just beneath the
cliffs is a feature of the trail. Westside
Campus, WCSU,
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Restaurant and Dining Suggestions
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Books, Maps, Travel Guides and More
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